Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-08-13
NHOsPEEABLE LIBERLA.



sioan Coast
Indianapolis EeWs.I
Dr.. Ralph ". Perry had a rich and
varied experience on the African Coast,
and not even the ambition to save a
heather from endless torment viii win
him back. He went out in the employ
Of the Episcopal Mission Board, to be
In charge Of the hospital, and of the
two who accompanied him one died
with coast fever within three weeks
after arrival, while the other was
driven insane from a similar cause.
Monrovia is the Capital Of Liberia, be-
ing named in honor of President Mon
roe Of this country, and it is a town of
about 1000 people, Of which number
eleven are white and the remainder Of
mixed blood, but largely native. The
business Of the town is In the hands of
less than a hundred persons, and the
remainder Of its population lives OF
them. Common labor is poorly re-
munerated. There is no plantation
work, save in the coffee-picking sea
SOD, and the negroes who were exported
from the South some years ago lead
shiftless and forlorn lives. not much
improved upon the native black. There
is no money. and in payment Of what
ever labor there is to do the laborer is
compelled to take out the price In what
ever is offered him. Flour, costing 81
barrel in New York, retails at S15 per
barrel; muslin of ordinary quality .
cents per yard; milk the same price
per pint, and small pints at that; and
everything else In proportion, The
steamship interests are controlled by
Belgium and German firms, and the
agents that are sent to Liberia to look
after their commercial affairs ara under
contract to remain three years; but few
last long. No white man escapes an
attack of African fever. 1t seized
Perry after he had been there but ii
short time, but thanks to a sturdy con-
stitutiOn he was able to fight off the
first attack, and a second and third, but
it kept returning every month or two,
until it finally wore him out. Its sYmp-
toms are very much like the ordinary
yellow fever Of the South, but. unlike
the yellow fever, the fact that a man
has it once is no guarantee that he IS
not liable to continued attacks of it.
The mission of Monrovia is in charge
of the Rev. Mr.. Ferguson, who is not
only missionary but also the Bishop,
and he has some twenty assistants, who
are stationed at MOnrovia and other
points. The mission was established
in 1882, and it is maintained ct about a
yearly cost of $4,000, and DR.. Perry
doubts if the conversions to date ex-
coed 500. 1t is not a pleasant country
in which to live, even for a native, and
a white man migrating to its inhospita-
bic shore, although the doctor didn't
say this in as many words, might as
we'll leave all hope behind. Bishop
Ferguson is a cOlored man, and this ac-
counts for his tenacity of life. There
are two seasons of the year, dry and
wet, but Perry failed to note much
difference between the wet and dry un-
less it was that in the wet season it
rained day and night, while in the dry
it only rained at night. The wet sea
son Is the healthiest, because it Is the
| coolest, and the temperature during
the day ranges from 90 to 12O degrees.
Only once during his stay Of ten
months, however, did it drop to &C
degrees, and then it felt cold enough
to don fannels and overcoat The trip
going and coming from New York is
made by sailing vessels and usually
| occupies forty-five days each way.